FOR CALEB Marchbank, he had one goal this season: get back onto the park. 

Though it wasn’t a linear trajectory, Marchbank ended up with four senior games and four VFL games, ending a 1,066-day drought in the process.

While his return to the AFL in Round 13 against Essendon was bittersweet given he sustained a meniscus injury, Marchbank was just grateful to be playing football again. 

“I was so keen to get back and play my first game in three years was super, but to then find out that I’ve had a meniscus tear was quite unusual,” Marchbank said. 

“I think the pleasing thing was that after three years of no footy, I was able to get through and get a taste of it and I was super grateful for that opportunity.”

Then came the anxiety of not knowing whether he would pull on the boots again in 2022. 

The initial diagnosis on his meniscus was 6-8 weeks: if there were any delays, it would've taken the defender to the end of the home-and-away season. However, Marchbank’s resilience and application - plus that of the high-performance team - saw him return to the VFL in Round 18 and 19, then return to the AFL for the remaining three rounds of the season. 

“Initially they diagnosed it as a 6-8 week injury so I was a little bit nervous but thanks to the medical team, we were able to push,” he said.  

“It felt really good to come back and play the last three AFL games and two VFL games was really good.” 

While his run was cut short by Carlton missing a top-eight spot, Marchbank was grateful for the three-game run, showcasing some of the signs which had teammates speaking of how sorely missed he had been in recent years.

However, he admitted that given the hard work that went in and where his football was placed, the end to the season was far too premature for his liking.

“It was obviously disappointing with the result but for me I was just eager to play, I felt like I got through three games and started to build some confidence,” he said. 

“It’s funny when you play in big games like that – the last three years don’t even matter – they were the biggest games I’ve played in and the crowd was super and the atmosphere was amazing: I’m looking forward to hopefully playing in many more of those games.” 

Building confidence and resilience was one of Marchbank’s main goals when he returned, but his output was one which himself, his teammates and his coaches knew he was capable of.

Looking assured behind the football and defending strongly in his four senior games, Marchbank slotted in among Carlton's defensive structure, using his intercept ability and composed ball use to assist his teammates in the back half.

“After each game, I feel like I built on the one before: I took great confidence from each game and it felt like it was a reflection of the amount of work that I put in for the last three years,” he said. 

“To be able to come back and play and feel like I kept on improving each game, it gives me confidence for pre-season.” 

The defensive group at Carlton was one which resembled a revolving door at times, with Marchbank admitting that he was continuing to come to terms with the way his teammates played after so long out of the game.

As he eyes his first full pre-season in a number of years, he already has his sights set on firing as a unit come Round 1.

“It was just the chemistry that hopefully we can continue to build, it’s probably something we haven’t had the last couple of years where our six or seven has been stable,” he said. 

“I think one of our strengths is that now we've got four or five boys that can take an intercept mark – now it’s just about adjusting to that and maybe not flying every time. 

“Hopefully we can all build from that and see some progress.”

With the defensive line led by Jacob Weitering, Marchbank knows the group and wider team will be in good stead with the co-vice captain at the forefront.

His locker mate has been a key supporter of his over the journey, and Marchbank said he was elated to be back playing alongside Weitering in front of packed stadiums.

“Jacob has been super, he’s been someone that showed heaps of support for me, someone that I can just go and chat to, whatever it may be,” he said. 

“I feel like this year, being a vice captain, he’s taken his leadership skills to the next level. 

“He’s someone that’s super reliable and that you love playing with.” 

Now that Marchbank has had some time to reflect on what he achieved this year, he has a new focus: to get through a pre-season and start in Round 1 fighting fit. 

Noting the support he’s received from the Club and the fanbase has been enormous, Marchbank reiterated that emotional support can be just as important as the physical rehab he has undertaken. 

This time last year, Marchbank was solely focused on getting back to adding to a games tally that was stuck on 48 for nearly three years. Now, he has built his confidence when it comes to having an impact on Carlton and its future, having re-signed last week for at least a further 12 months.

“I got through the last few games unscathed so for me, it’s just building from that and hopefully having a first real pre-season that I haven’t had for a few years – we just go from there,” he said. 

“This opportunity to get through a pre-season excites me because it’s something I haven’t been able to do for a few years.

“The pre-season for me is just about building resilience, getting the body through and making it stronger and hopefully that will allow me to play a full season.”